High Stakes, page 32
“Don’t you tell me that I’ve lost everything!” Volkov’s voice was almost a screech. “It can’t be true.” He whirled on Kael. “You were supposed to protect me from things like this. What do I pay you for?”
“It was an expert hacking job,” Kael said frantically. “Absolutely faultless. You saw me call and check on the bigger accounts to verify that it had actually happened. The bank executives couldn’t believe it.”
“But you still can’t get my money back?”
He shook his head. “It just…disappeared. You know I’ll do my best.”
“Your best sucks,” Volkov snarled. “What good are you?”
“It’s not my fault.” Kael was backing toward the casino door. “No one could have stopped it. It was…faultless.”
“It was Tanner,” Volkov said. “He was sitting here and mocking me, and all the time he was stealing me blind. I could see it in his face. I’ll kill the son of a bitch.”
“Yes, it must have been him,” Kael said quickly. “It wasn’t me, sir.”
Anton threw open the casino door and ran into the room. “I checked the road and Tanner didn’t leave by the interstate. And I just saw headlights on the upper ridge road. He might be trying to head west for Arizona. He’s got to know he can’t get away with this.”
“Might? You’re as much an idiot as Kael. You and Maria and your bitch of a daughter. You’re all idiots and trying to get me. Call some of the men at the helicopter and find out where they are on the property.”
“I was just going to suggest that,” Anton said. He was backing away. He’d never seen Volkov in a rage like this. “Just give me a little time.” He was looking for a way out, some way to distract him. “Do you want me to get rid of Kael? He’s no use to you now.”
Volkov whirled on Kael. “I’ll get rid of him myself.” He took out his gun. “You did your best to save my money?” He shot him in the head. “Not good enough, you asshole.” He turned on Anton with the gun still in his hand. “Now find me Tanner and that bitch from hell or I’ll blow your head off, too.”
Anton didn’t doubt he’d do it. He’d have to play along until he could get Volkov to quiet down. “We’ll have to be smart about this. We have to catch them, not just shoot them. If it was Tanner that took your money, then he’s going to be the one to know how to get it back. And you’re angry at Lara now, but when you get over it, you’re going to remember what a fine time you had with those Trials. You had plans for her.”
“I’ll tear her apart,” Volkov said coldly. “I’ll tear both of them apart. They can’t do that to me. Don’t try to convince me I should keep the whore because it’s over. You only want to wring me of every dime you can.”
“Whatever you decide,” Anton said. “I only want what’s best for you. But you agree we should try to capture them? That way you have a chance of getting some satisfaction.” And Anton might stand a chance of reaping more money from Volkov or at least keep himself alive. “I’ll gather the men and we’ll hunt them down.”
Volkov was frowning. “Hunt…I like the sound of it.” He smiled savagely. “And they may be playing into our hands by taking the west exit from the mountain. They’re on the ridge road, and the helicopter is still in the canyon. I’d rather get the helicopter and attack them from the air. I could really chew them up.” He was heading for the door. “That’s what we’ll do. Call the helicopter and alert them I’ll be in the canyon in fifteen minutes and to be ready for me. You go up the mountain road and grab some of the men, then join me.”
“But it would really be better to—”
“Don’t tell me what’s better,” Volkov said. “Just do what I order, and you might survive what that bastard Tanner did to me.” He was striding out the door. “But I doubt it.”
* * *
“I think that Volkov might have just found out that all his money went up in a poof of smoke.” Lara was looking in the rearview mirror, which was reflecting the casino in the valley. “I see two trucks leaving the casino area at breakneck speed. They’re heading in this direction.”
“I’ll let Rennell know it might be time to run interference.” Tanner added sarcastically, “Though I wouldn’t want to bother him.” He phoned Rennell. “I can’t promise you Volkov is in either one of those trucks coming toward us, but they’re in a big hurry if it interests you.”
“Oh, yes, it definitely interests me. Get up on that ridge and put Mallory and our guys on alert. Volkov or not, it’s time to start the action anyway.” Rennell ended the call.
Rennell quickly adjusted the sights of his Barrett MRAD sniper rifle and rolled over onto his stomach. With the gun barrel extended before him, he shimmied under a bush and surveyed the ridge. It was a good spot. Maximum visibility with minimum exposure. He looked though the scope. Volkov’s men were doing a fairly good job of staying out of sight, but he knew they were scattered across the ridge.
Time to draw them out.
He pulled out his phone to make sure Maria had finished her job. A one-word text from her was on the screen: CLEAR.
He activated the app, which showed him the placement of the explosive charges. Each point glowed green on the screen.
He pressed the first one.
BLAMM!
Just as he hoped, it sounded like a gunshot. The first one was to put Volkov’s men on alert, a moment to wonder: What the hell was that?
Rennell pushed another dot on the screen.
BLAMM!
And another.
BLAMM!
That should send them diving for cover, taking positions.
He peered into the scope. There was no wind, so any movements in the brush were surely the men.
He smiled. Three swaying bushes on the hillside.
He squeezed off three quick shots.
BLAMM! BLAMM! BLAMM!
Two men tumbled from their hiding places.
He made another go at the third. BLAMM!
The third man stood and slumped over the bush, holding a gushing wound on his neck. He lost consciousness.
Rennell set off two more of the charges. BLAMM! BLAMM!
Come on, guys. Fire back…
He set off another one. BLAMM!
Suddenly shots were coming from all directions.
That was more like it.
Rennell’s tactical sunglasses made it easier to see muzzle flashes on the hillside. Zero in, and…
BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM!
Four more guys down.
He set off a couple more charges to keep the others from homing in on his location.
Another volley of gunfire, which only served to reveal more muzzle flashes and more moving bushes. He took aim.
BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM!
At least two more down. Maybe a third.
He fired again. BLAMM! BLAMM!
Definitely a third. The man slid down the hillside headfirst.
Rennell looked over the scene once more. Had he gotten them all?
“Don’t move.”
Shit. The voice came from behind him.
“Drop the gun now or you’re dead.”
Rennell dropped his rifle.
“Now turn over and stand up.”
Rennell rolled over. A red-haired young man was holding an assault rifle in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other. He spoke into the walkie-talkie. “I got him. What do you want me to do?”
No reply.
“Your friends are dead,” Rennell said.
“Shut up.”
The kid was starting to panic. He spoke into the radio again. “Guys, I’m at the bottom of the ridge. I got the shooter. Where should I take him?”
No reply.
Rennell stood. “I told you. They’re dead.”
“Maybe I should just kill you.” He spoke into the radio once more. “Guys, if I don’t hear from you, I—”
Rennell dropped a knife from his sleeve scabbard and, in one smooth motion, threw it at the young man’s chest.
FFFFT.
The blade went right into his heart. The young man dropped his walkie-talkie and gun, then staggered backward. He dropped to the ground, dead.
Rennell grabbed his rifle and ran.
The two trucks that Tanner had warned him about were barreling up the road toward his location. He fell to his knees and aimed at the first one coming over the hill. BLAMM! The windshield shattered and the driver screamed as he lost control of the vehicle and went off the road, crashing into a boulder. The second truck was right on top of Rennell now, and he didn’t have time to aim. He rolled out of the way of the truck’s tires and tried to get off one shot as he struggled to his feet.
BLAMM!
The driver screamed and then screamed again as the truck turned over, pinning him beneath it.
Rennell froze.
What the hell? That hadn’t been Rennell’s shot! It had come from behind him. He went into a crouch and whirled, gun pointed.
Maria was standing there with a gun in her hand. “I heard the shooting and came running.” Her voice was shaking. She looked down at the gun in her hand and drew a deep breath. “I picked this up on the way. I probably could have picked up half a dozen more. It was a lot of shooting, Rennell. How many…No, I don’t want to talk about it. You did what you had to do, and I helped you.”
“I did the killing,” he said flatly. “All you did is bozo work. Stop trying to steal my thunder.”
“Why, Rennell, I believe you’re trying to save my tender feelings.”
“Bullshit.”
“Too late. You’ve already shown me that minuscule amount of softening. I won’t tell anyone.” She smiled shakily. “But it was a waste because I deliberately killed that man and we both know it. In fact, I caught a glimpse of his face before I pulled the trigger.” She moistened her lips. “And now I’m going to go over and make sure he’s dead.” She moved over to the truck. “Though I aimed for his throat, and he was pinned under the truck so I’m almost sure.”
“I’m very sure,” he said harshly. “You don’t have to look at the bastard.”
“Yes, I do.” She was kneeling beside the truck and shining her flashlight on his crushed head. “Yes, quite dead.” She got to her feet. “Thank God!”
“Maria?” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “What’s going on?”
“I told you, I saw his face.” Her lips were curved in a bitter smile. “And I knew his name. It was Anton Balkon, my dear departed husband. You might have heard a few stories about him. They were all true. So I won’t pretend to be sorry about the bastard. He was probably on his way to torment Lara. He and Volkov had a habit of—” She stopped. “I didn’t think—what happened here might change things. Why are we standing here? Shouldn’t we go and help Lara and Tanner finish this?”
“Yes, I was just waiting for you to stop talking so that we could get on the road. We should probably head for Mallory and his guys and see if those charges are really going to work.” He gazed at her, deadpan. “If you’re truly finished mourning…”
“Bastard.” She headed for Rennell’s car. “I’m definitely finished mourning.”
* * *
Lara held tight to the seat belt as Tanner gunned the Mercedes over the rough, rocky terrain of the ridge road. “I’m glad I didn’t volunteer to drive,” she shouted over the rattling noise of the metal. “Mercedes are supposed to be very sturdy, but this doesn’t feel like it.”
“It’s a good car. I’m punishing it,” Tanner said. “I want to get to the pass where we’ll be able to see the copter. If Volkov took the bait, then the timing should be just about right in another three minutes. He’ll be arriving at the pass about the same time as we do.” He grinned. “Of course, he’ll be driving up to the copter pad, which will be about a hundred feet below where we are on this ridge road. And the point will be to encourage Volkov to come up and join us, preferably in that helicopter.”
Lara was bounced against the side of the door again. “I wouldn’t want to insult that great numeric gift you have that everybody keeps telling me about, but I may end up outside this car before we get to the pass if you keep jouncing me around.”
He nodded. “One more minute. But I can make the call to Volkov now.”
“I want to make the phone call to Volkov,” Lara said quietly. “You closed me out the last time and I gave in. But not this time, Tanner. I want him to know that it’s ending for him, and it’s partly because of me that it’s happening. There’s no slick card game nor even your very impressive gift of gab. There’s just me and the man who’s hated me most of his life…and made me pay.” Her voice was low and emphatic. “How he made me pay.”
He looked at her for a moment and then reached for his phone. “I hear you. In the end, it only matters that we get Volkov on that helicopter. Then we’ll leave it to Rennell to do his job. I’m just checking to see if he’s reached the pass yet.” He dialed. “Rennell, are you at the pass? Is Volkov there?” He hung up the phone. “Volkov took the bait. He’s driving up to the helicopter pad now.” He smiled at her as he handed her his phone. “Just press the button. It will bring up Volkov’s number. And it will show my name as the caller. I believe that will goad him to answer since he was ready to behead me when we walked out of the casino. But I’ll be glad to share it with you. I don’t want to be selfish.”
He was joking, but Lara realized it was an unselfish act. His hatred for Volkov must be as deep as her own, and it was natural he wanted to control every facet of his removal. She smiled. “I appreciate your generosity.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure that you know what you have to do.”
They were at the pass now and she could see down into the canyon where the gray helicopter was sitting some hundred feet below the ridge. Volkov was getting out of his car, and he looked…stressed. That was a good sign.
“Stoke the fires,” she said softly. “Mock him. Make him want to chase us to hell and back.” She shrugged. “No problem.” She punched the number.
It rang only once before Volkov picked up the phone. “Tanner! Where are you?” His voice was harsh with malevolence. “Do you think you can get away with this? No one gets away with cheating me. When I catch you, I’m—”
“It’s not Tanner,” Lara interrupted. “It’s Lara. Tanner was busy driving and didn’t want to bother with you. We’re through with you, and on to good times. But I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to you, and I always like to put a period to a relationship. Particularly when it’s turned out to be so profitable for me.”
“Profitable?” he repeated. “What are you talking about, bitch? You’re dead to me. After I’ve killed Tanner, I’ll send my men to hunt you down and cut your heart out. I’d do it myself, but you’re not worth my time. I’ll just tell them to make sure the rape is long and painful before they even start the actual torture.” His voice fell to a hiss. “Just as I would have done. You’ve always known that’s what’s been waiting for you, haven’t you? I was going to treat you as I would have your whore of a mother before I ended you.”
“Are you finished? Yes, I always thought it would end that way if you had your way.” She added mockingly, “But aren’t I lucky that you’re not going to have your way? Because you’re a loser, Volkov. I wish I could have seen you when you found out that Tanner had taken you for every nickel. Did you scream? Did you moan and cry like a baby? Yes, that must be what you did. You must have cried, and everyone around you in that casino was probably laughing at you.”
“Shut up! No one was laughing.” He was screaming. “They were all afraid of me. Everyone was afraid.”
It was almost too easy to push him toward hysteria. “I don’t believe you. They were all pretending. I’ve watched people pretend to be afraid, and then laugh at you behind your back.” She chuckled. “And you didn’t even know it. I did it myself. Because you were such a pitiful human being.”
“You were afraid of me. I know you were. I’m not a loser.”
“Yet I was beginning to win every Trial you set me. So I was the winner, and you were the loser. And when I found Tanner, we built on that. Look at you now. Everyone laughing at you. No money. No fancy cars. All the families will be feeling sorry for you until they decide to devour you. That will come soon, won’t it? Like the way you pounced on anyone too weak to fight you. I’ve watched you and wondered when it would be your turn.”
She could see the tension in his body as he spat at her, “You’re lying. I’m strong. I’ll never be weak.”
“Then how could Tanner just take me away from you? I’m sure all your men were laughing at you when they found out. Weak. So very weak.”
“Lies. I’ll hunt you down. I’ll shut you up so that you can’t lie about me.”
“Hunt me down?” This could be the moment. She could see that his rage was searing and growing white-hot. “What a fool you are.” She was opening the passenger door as she spoke. “Do you think we’d be afraid of a weakling like you? I just dropped in for a chat before we got on the road again.”
She heard Tanner mutter a curse, but she was already out of the car walking toward the edge of the ridge overlooking the canyon. “Look up, Volkov. Wave goodbye. Because this is the final Trial and I’ve won it big time.”
He stared up at her in rage and disbelief, and then he made a sound that was like a cross between pain and madness. The next moment he was frantically climbing up the boulders of the canyon wall to get at her.
“Enough.” Tanner was beside her and jerking her toward the car. “If you hadn’t taken them by surprise, his men might have started taking potshots at you.” Then he was pushing her into the car and jumping into the driver’s seat.
“But I did take them by surprise,” she said as he pressed the accelerator and the car leaped forward. “And I think I took him to the edge. I knew there wasn’t any chance of him climbing up that entire cliff to get to me. But I bet he’ll be frustrated enough now to jump into that helicopter.”
“We’ll see. We should know soon enough. In the meantime I’ve got to put distance between us and that canyon.” He called Rennell. “Action?”
“Action,” Rennell confirmed. “Ever since Lara appeared on that cliff like an angel from heaven. But that’s not what Volkov is calling her. And he’s cursing a blue streak at everyone else on the helicopter team. I think they’re going to take off any minute.” He paused. “Look, I have an idea. Let me try to distract them away from you once they’re airborne. I’m heading up toward the ridge now. Kill your headlights. If they mistake me for you, I might be able to lead them back down to the box canyon. I’ve been trying to think of a way to do that.”
